SPAC takes action on state and national issues that affect our projects, priority issue areas and communities primarily by supporting legislation that we have identified as being critical to the work of our member Leagues, their community partners, and the lives of Florida women, children and families. We select legislation that aligns with our Position Statements which are reviewed and updated annually.
For the upcoming 2024 legislative session, SPAC will be focusing its advocacy efforts on health and hunger issues affecting children and families throughout our state. Other recent priority issue areas have included at-risk youth, education, child safety and welfare, and health and hunger. Legislative reform in these areas has accomplished the following:
- Allows unaccompanied youth to consent to medical, dental, psychological, substance abuse, surgical diagnosis and treatment for themselves and their children.
- Limits the liability of public schools in donating canned/perishable food to charities/non-profits.
- Prevents an estimated 10,000 children from falling victim to identity theft each year. Read the letter of appreciation from Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam recognizing the Junior Leagues of Florida’s efforts to pass this important legislation.
- Raises the age requirement for children to be buckled in an appropriate safety seat, thereby significantly reducing the severity of injuries inflicted on children in auto accidents.
- Helps victims of human trafficking.
- Creates more restrictions and increased penalties for sexual offenders and traffickers.
In recent years, we have also supported aging out of foster care reform, the eradication of food deserts to help decrease family homelessness and hunger, legislation on cybercrimes related to sexual images of children sent electronically, eliminating sales tax on diapers, and many more issues.